As of Sunday night the Bombers still had the second overall pick in Monday’s CFL draft.

And if it stays that way, it’ll be interesting to see which way GM Joe Mack goes, because his previous first rounds have raised a few eyebrows.

The Bombers didn’t have a first-rounder in his first year of 2010, and they made the right call going with middle linebacker Henoc Muamba with the first overall selection in 2011. After that, though, his choices have come out of left field. Receiver Jade Etienne went fourth overall in 2011, and he has yet to grow into the receiver they hoped he would be.

Last year he traded up to get offensive lineman Tyson Pencer third overall, even though the consensus was Pencer would have still been around at No. 8. Pencer then missed all of last season with a shoulder injury, so the jury is still out on that pick as well.

That has many across the CFL wondering which way Mack will go if the Bombers end up making the second overall pick. The Bombers, along with several other teams, have asked the Ticats about moving up to No. 1, likely in an effort to get CFL Combine stud defensive tackle Linden Gaydosh, but no one has a clue about what he would do at No. 2.

So let us take an educated guess: defensive end Andy Mulumba. The main reason why is because defensive co-ordinator Casey Creehan recruited the Montreal native to play at Eastern Michigan in 2009. Creehan was the defensive line coach that fall and Mulumba played linebacker at the time. Creehan left a year later, and Mulumba moved to defensive end.

Still, the connection is there, and Creehan is well aware of Mulumba’s abilities.

Another reason for the Bombers to take Mulumba is one of their defensive end positions is basically up for grabs. Bryant Turner and Andre Caroll patrol the tackles, while Alex Hall is back to terrorize quarterbacks at one of the end spots. Thanks to Jason Vega’s departure to the NFL, a replacement is needed.

Mulumba could start out in a rotational role and one day take it over, giving the Bombers more flexibility with the ratio.

One reason why the Bombers might be scared off, however, is because Mulumba signed with the Green Bay Packers last weekend after the NFL draft. Depending on how he does at their mini-camps, he might not be available to start Bombers training camp in a month’s time.

And considering how much pressure Mack will be under this year to make the playoffs, that might not be a risk he’s willing to take.

As Advertised in the Winnipeg SUN

Big risk but bigger reward for Bombers in CFL draft

As of Sunday night the Bombers still had the second overall pick in Monday’s CFL draft.

And if it stays that way, it’ll be interesting to see which way GM Joe Mack goes, because his previous first rounds have raised a few eyebrows.

The Bombers didn’t have a first-rounder in his first year of 2010, and they made the right call going with middle linebacker Henoc Muamba with the first overall selection in 2011. After that, though, his choices have come out of left field. Receiver Jade Etienne went fourth overall in 2011, and he has yet to grow into the receiver they hoped he would be.

Last year he traded up to get offensive lineman Tyson Pencer third overall, even though the consensus was Pencer would have still been around at No. 8. Pencer then missed all of last season with a shoulder injury, so the jury is still out on that pick as well.